Mina Witteman – author | editor | teacher of creative writing

Posts tagged “Dark Fiber

Daily Distraction: DARK FIBER – a serial thriller, episode 29

Posted on August 18, 2014

Before he ventured on the net, Matt scanned and filed the fifty plus emails that had landed his inbox during his ride home. Most messages dealt with Dallas Bard and about Giddyap’s brightening future, ranging from covert inquiries to undisguised prying. He’d deal with them later. First he had to color in the life of his avatar. From now on Jonathan Groen was the illustrious Dallas Bard. Pasting in pictures and uploading documents, forging chats and email exchanges, he thought back to the day Victoria suggested to recruit a total stranger for the job. He’d been skeptic, had preferred an actor, someone he could pay and ditch as soon as the job was done. Victoria had laid out the threats of his plan: a contract, a honorarium, endless drivel over expenses, not to mention…

Daily Distraction: DARK FIBER – a serial thriller, episode 28

Posted on July 25, 2014

Matt was with his car in fifteen minutes and in less than thirty he covered the twenty-five miles to his home. Not the cramped apartment he had rented in Palo Alto to keep his boss, his co-workers and business partners away from his personal life, but the Woodside villa, the only place where he could seclude himself from the world. The Vet, top down, did what it was supposed to do: the speed and the wind blew his brain free of the tension that had built up in Amsterdam. If only for a short while. The solid steel fence slid open, triggered by the remote sensor in the car. Matt zoomed into the driveway. Inches before he’d crash into the veranda that circled the house, he hit the brakes.…

Daily Distraction: DARK FIBER – a serial thriller, episode 27

Posted on July 24, 2014

The customs officer responded like he heard Pavlov’s bell ringing. He might have let Matt off the hook with a warning or a stern look, maybe a lecture about courtesy and god knows what, but that option went up in smoke when Matt uttered his curse. Instead, the officer slapped the scratched aluminum table behind him. “Open up,” he barked, pointing at the suitcase. Matt hoisted the suitcase and the duffel on the table. Without waiting for permission the man zipped open the bag and emptied its contents on the table. As submissive as possible, Matt unlocked the suitcase and stepped away from the table in what he hoped would look like a respectful manner. The latexed hands of the customs officer grabbed through Matt’s laundry and when he couldn’t find fault,…

Daily Distraction: DARK FIBER – a serial thriller, episode 26

Posted on July 22, 2014

Chapter 3 – Matt   The worst part of the red eye had not been the humiliating plea for a possible upgrade, which he failed to get, or the agonizing long wait before his luggage arrived at the belt. The true horror had been the dark, when the lights went out and the windows were darkened, when the massive body of guy sitting next to him bulged under the armrest and pushed him against the old lady sitting on his other side. He had fled to the bathroom and spent the major part of the red-eye there. It was small as a coffin but at least the glaring light kept him breathing. Matt looked up from his hands and dropped the toothpick with which…

Daily Distraction: DARK FIBER – a serial thriller, episode 25

Posted on July 21, 2014

As forceful as his hangover allowed him, Jonathan shook off Matt’s hand. He got up, pushed past Victoria and hurried to the door, but before he reached it a monkey-suited guy closed it and shielded it like he was a Swiss Guard. At the same time the lights dimmed and what was left was the eerie glow of hundreds of laptops. Jonathan stepped closer to the door. “I’m sorry, Sir,” the guard said. He flicked a look over Jonathan’s shoulder to where Matt and Victoria sat, and smiled. “We’re about to begin.” Jonathan flopped into the nearest chair. What the fuck… He leered at Matt and Victoria. They sat erect, watching the podium, seemingly unimpressed by his attempt to leave. It was the alertness in…

Daily Distraction: DARK FIBER – a serial thriller, episode 24

Posted on July 18, 2014

The woman patted Jonathan on the back. “Don’t be scared,” she whispered. “Remember you’re among friends.” Whatever had driven him into the elevator, now pulled him out into a wide hall thronged with people. Even before the clicking of her high heels, like the clicking of a  gave her away, Victoria wedged herself between the woman and Jonathan. She wrapped her arm around his waist and pulled him close. “Dallas,” she cooed. “I missed you sooo much.” Her piercing voice not only ricocheted against the marble floor and walls but also against the insides of his skull. She rubbed her cheek against his shoulder and fluttered her eyelashes at him. The eyelids were painted a dark purple, a color that matched her short, tight dress. “You were awesome…

Daily Distraction: DARK FIBER – a serial thriller, episode 23

Posted on July 17, 2014

The elevator took forever to arrive. Jonathan felt worse with every passing minute, like he’d been run over by a truck. He leant into the wall, granting his tired body some support. He closed his eyes, unable to focus because of the headache that again spread to his temples and the nape of his neck. Champagne couldn’t do this. And he was used to drinking a lot more before he felt this bad. He reached out to summon the elevator again. “Hello?” The soft voice came from the elevator car. “Are you joining me? We’ll be in time for the opening.” His hand froze halfway the elevator button. For a moment it seemed like he couldn’t breathe anymore. He hadn’t noticed the elevator’s arrival or…